EDMONTON, CANADA - NOVEMBER 5: Joey MacDonald of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Edmonton Oilers on November 5, 2010 at Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Dale MacMillan/Getty Images)

DETROIT Darren Helm isn't the only Red Wing dealing with back problems.
Goaltender Joey MacDonald remember him? He's had back issues for years, including undergoing surgery in 2006 to repair a bulging disc.
Last season MacDonald came up from Grand Rapids when Jimmy Howard got hurt. MacDonald helped the Wings set a new NHL record with 23 straight home victories.
But then his back problems resurfaced in mid-March and sidelined him for the rest of the season. Then the Wings signed goaltender Jonas Gustavsson to back up Jimmy Howard.
"Its frustrating, especially after a year like last year when everything went so well and timing was everything," MacDonald said. "But hey, its no different than any other year for me. You come into camp and battle, battle, battle and if youre not No. 1 youre battling for No. 2. It doesnt matter. You just keep battling and working hard and look at last year and look what happened."
MacDonald said his back feels 100 times better than it did when he ...

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